Panasonic LUMIX DC-LX100II Premium Digital Camera (21.77 MP, 24-75 mm Leica DC Vario Summilux Lens, F1.7-2.8, 4K, Black)

I'm a professional photographer and my camera of choice is a Nikon D850. Almost everything I shoot is published in magazines. I bought the Lumix for fun, so I could shoot landscapes when out on doggy walks, but it's far more capable than I expected.It was a headache figuring out how to switch off the gadgets so what I ended up with was a camera that gave me manual control over the raw files I wanted to capture (I'm not a big fan of anybody's instruction booklet and Panasonic's is no better!) but once I'd got everything set up, the results started to show.The Lumix LX100 II is a very capable creative tool that captures powerful images when you kick the automatic modes and use it properly. All the pictures I've included were shot at 200 ISO and I've printed the results on a 44"-wide Canon Prograf 4000 at 300dpi. They are good, strong, detailed images with a wide dynamic range, even when printed at 400mm x 400mm. They would go larger but this is the maximum size at typical magazine print resolution.Unlike many lenses that lag behind the larger sensors on full-frame cameras in their ability to resolve detail, the lens and the sensor on the Panasonic Lumix LX100 II are well-matched - and this f1.7 Leica lens is a real joy to use.One feature that particularly impressed me is obvious in the 4th picture (pebbles on the beach in black and white): the close focus capability of this little Lumix. Although the pictures I've attached are only screen grabs from the originals and won't show you the detail i the original, the pebbles I rested the Lumix on, which are only a few centimetres away from the lens, are almost as sharp as the waves crashing on the beach and that really speaks volumes for the Leica Vario-Summilux lens. The shot was taken with the lens set to macro-focus and f16, the smallest aperture. Normally, to get this close I'd be using a macro lens costing three or four times as much as the Lumix!At f1.7 and zoomed to a good portrait telephoto setting of 75mm (full frame equivalent), the bokeh is soft and pleasing and edge fall-off and vignette during stop-down are minimal. The zoom function is easily accessed, either through the control bar near the shutter release, or by turning the multi-function ring on the lens.The contre jour shot of the fisherman would be challenging enough to give even the best lenses a headache. I took it purely as a test. The virtual absence of flair, even into direct sunlight, can't fail to impress - and look at the shadow detail on the fisherman's clothing.The automatic settings do give acceptable results but if, like me, you use your camera as a technical paintbrush, you'll enjoy Panasonic's manual functionality and avoid capturing your images as .jpgs.Compared with some compact cameras, the lens protrudes more than is comfortable to fit easily into a trouser pocket but it’s a small price to pay for the definition you get from it. The autofocus is fast and accurate but it would be useful to outdoor photographers if a more clearly defined confirmation beep could be set before the shutter triggered. It’s virtually inaudible in wind or near the sea. A tilting screen would also be a great help for low-level shooting.In conclusion, I'd have to say this little Lumix is a real joy to use and a testament to Japanese genius. It's definitely the pick of the crop and worth every penny.